Gwyneth Paltrow wows the crowd at 'Country strong' premiere

Gwyneth paltrow at the premiere of Country Strong wearing a risque Emilio Pucci gown. Photo: REX

'Darling, you look amazing!' Photo: REX

At last night's Los Angeles premiere of 'Country Strong', 38-year-old actress Gwyneth Paltrow defied belief in more ways than one. Wowing the crowd in a long, white, slashed gown by Peter Dundas for Emilio Pucci that seemed to be held together by nothing more than a wish and a prayer, it was hard to work out what was more amazing: how the dress didn't fall off altogether, displaying Paltrow's knicker-less rear, or how someone her age could pull off a dress that rightfully shouldn't be seen on anyone over 25.

Paltrow's commitment to a healthy balanced diet and her dynamic personal trainer
Tracy Anderson
(whose other triumphs include Madonna and Stella McCartney), are to thank for her body confidence, but this look requires more than just a perfect butt to nail. A perfect butt certainly helps, mind, but where other toned and tanned celebrities would lend this ensemble an inescapable air of car-crash-trash, Gwyneth's grace elevates her higher than the gutter and the top shelf where she hovers like some angelic deity who we should all worship.

The key to her success? Paltrow is a woman's woman, the kind who you feel could be your best friend in real life, not one who would steal your husband. So when she really dresses up and pulls out all the stops, we think 'Go girl, you look amazing!' not 'Ugh, look at that old slapper'.

Say what you like about her goody-two-shoes image, Gwyneth's not a girl who revels in the spotlight. She manages to keep her marriage to one of the world's most famous rock stars private, her two children out of the papers and her successful and addictive advice blog Goop.com a weekly must-read for thousands of women.

In short, Paltrow has mastered the art of showing off without being boastful, and that's a look you can't buy in any department store.